


Thomson Reuters emphasizes the importance of working in a secure environment that includes up-to-date antivirus, antimalware, and firewall solutions when using our CS Professional Suite as well as other applications for processing and storing information for your firm and your clients. Please consult with a qualified IT professional when selecting, implementing, and configuring antivirus, antimalware, and firewall solutions for your firm's network and workstations. Taking appropriate antivirus measures is imperative to ensuring your firm's standards of software performance, stability, and data integrity.
Do not temporarily disable your antivirus as an alternative to setting the recommended exceptions. Many antivirus programs continue to run after being disabled, which means that undesired antivirus intervention can occur.
See also: Firewall guidelines for CS Professional Suite applications
Antivirus configuration
Antivirus applications are designed to detect, prevent, contain, and disarm or remove viruses, spyware, malware, and other malicious software and to protect your workstation or server environment from harmful and unknown threats.
- Be sure that your antivirus application is appropriate for your operating system. Some antivirus applications do not perform well on certain server operating systems and could cause network delays.
- Because antivirus scanning consumes many resources, consider scheduling automatic scans during off-business hours.
- If your firm has an antivirus application installed on both workstations and servers, do not allow the workstations to perform real-time scanning on server drives. Letting the server scan its own drives reduces network delays and minimizes interference with network traffic. Refer to your antivirus provider's instructions to determine how to turn off the real-time scanning of network drives.
Many antivirus programs provide automatic protection (commonly known as real-time protection) that runs continuously while a computer is in use. Real-time protection could potentially interfere with the performance, functionality, or data integrity of a CS Professional Suite application and could negatively impact productivity by slowing the speed of the application, by preventing the application from launching, and even by corrupting data.
Antivirus applications typically allow configuration options to exclude trusted sources from real-time protection. This topic lists recommended specifications for antivirus exclusions and exceptions to help ensure best performance of our CS Professional Suite applications.
Excluding specific folders from the scan
Certain antivirus applications allow exclusions or exceptions from real-time protection for specific folder locations. For all locally installed CS Professional Suite applications, Thomson Reuters recommends excluding the WinCSI folder. Also, please refer to the additional information below as applicable to your firm.
Note: While we recommend that the folder locations noted here be excluded from real-time scanning, you should continue to include these folders in your antivirus software's scheduled, off-hours scanning.
Accounting CS
Accounting CS uses several local folders to run the application. Please exclude the following folders from real-time scanning on all workstations that run Accounting CS:
- C:\Program Files\Creative Solutions\Accounting CS
C:\Program Files (x86)\Creative Solutions\Accounting CS if on a 64-bit operating system
- C:\ProgramData\Creative Solutions\Accounting CS
- C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Local\Creative Solutions\Accounting CS
Engagement CS
Engagement CS uses a specific local folder to run the application. Please exclude the C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Creative Solutions folder from real-time scanning on all workstations that run Engagement CS.
FileCabinet CS enables you to create multiple user-specified data and archive locations that could potentially reside outside of the CS Professional Suite default WinCSI folder. For any of these data or archive locations, we recommend excluding these folders from real-time antivirus scanning.
Note: Also see the SQL-based CS Professional Suite applications section below if you use an optional SQL data location and run an antivirus application on the machine where the SQL Server instance for FileCabinet CS is installed.
Planner CS uses the local directory to temporarily store client data when integrating with other CS Professional Suite applications. We recommend that you exclude the C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Local\Temp\ folder from real-time scanning.
Practice CS uses several local folders to run the application. Please exclude the following folders from real-time scanning on all workstations that run Practice CS.
- C:\ProgramData\Creative Solutions\Practice CS
- C:\Program Files\Creative Solutions\Practice CS
C:\Program Files (x86)\Creative Solutions\Practice CS if on a 64-bit operating system
- C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Local\Creative Solutions\Practice CS
CS Professional Suite applications such as Accounting CS, Practice CS, Workpapers CS, and (optionally) FileCabinet CS use SQL databases. If you run an antivirus application on the machine where the SQL Server instance for your CS Professional Suite applications is installed, we recommend excluding the folder location of the Microsoft SQL Server instance from real-time scanning. Refer to the table below to determine the default location of your Microsoft SQL Server installation, based on the version you are running.
Microsoft SQL Server 2012 |
C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL11.[instance_name] C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL11.[instance_name] (if installed on a 64-bit operating system) |
Microsoft SQL Server 2014 |
C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL12.[instance_name] C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL12.[instance_name] (if installed on a 64-bit operating system) |
Microsoft SQL Server 2016 |
C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL13.[instance_name] C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL13.[instance_name] (if installed on a 64-bit operating system) |
Microsoft SQL Server 2017 |
C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL14.[instance_name] C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL14.[instance_name] (if installed on a 64-bit operating system) |
The locations specified above are the default paths for the SQL Server instance folders. However, SQL installations can be customized to place this folder in a different location. Be sure to contact your firm's qualified IT professional for assistance with a customized SQL Server installation.
For additional information on configuring antivirus in a SQL environment, please see How to choose antivirus software to run on computers that are running SQL Server
() on the Microsoft website.
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UltraTax CS uses a local drive to temporarily store client data when a client is opened. We recommend that you exclude the following folders from real-time scanning:
- C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Local\Thomson Reuters (for UltraTax CS 2014 and all future versions)
- C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Local\Temp\UT13Data (for UltraTax CS 2013)
If you mark the Improve performance using local drive option in the Setup > User Preferences > Misc tab, the application will create a X:\WinCSI.net folder, where X represents your selected local drive. We recommend that you also exclude this folder from real-time scanning.
Citrix is an important component for firms that run CS Professional Suite applications in the Virtual Office CS or SaaS environment. We recommend excluding the following folders from real-time scanning:
- C:\Program Files (x86)\Citrix\
- C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Local\Citrix
If you use the FileCabinet CS Print Driver in the Virtual Office CS or SaaS environment and FileCabinet CS is not currently open, the application temporarily stores a print job in a local folder. We recommend excluding the following folders from real-time scanning:
- C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Local\Temp\CSVOXfr_workdir
- C:\Windows\Temp\CSVOXfr_workdir
For additional guidelines, please see Citrix Guidelines for Antivirus Software Configuration. 
Workpapers CS uses several local folders to run the application. Please exclude the following folders from real-time scanning on all workstations that run Workpapers CS.
- C:\Program Files\Creative Solutions\Workpapers CS
C:\Program Files (x86)\Creative Solutions\Workpapers CS if on a 64-bit operating system
- C:\ProgramData\Creative Solutions\Workpapers CS
- C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Local\Creative Solutions\Workpapers CS
Excluding specific executable files from the scan
Some antivirus applications may not allow exclusions for entire folders but do allow exclusions for specific files. Listed below are the application-specific recommended exclusions for the CS Professional Suite.
Antivirus applications may also track the file size, version, or other attributes of the executable files for which exclusions have already been defined. As a result, you may need to redefine these exclusions within your antivirus application from time to time as updates are applied.
Filename |
File location |
Description |
AccountingCS.exe |
X:\WinCSI\Accounting CS |
executable file for Accounting CS |
csiupd.exe |
X:\WinCSI\Accounting CS |
executable file for CS Connect |
connectbgdl.exe |
X:\WinCSI\Tools |
executable file for CS Connect background services |
Filename |
File Location |
Description |
fcabapp.exe |
X:\WinCSI\Cabinet |
executable file for FileCabinet CS |
fcab.exe |
X:\WinCSI\Cabinet |
executable file for FileCabinet CS |
csiupd.exe |
X:\WinCSI\Cabinet |
executable file for CS Connect |
setup.exe |
X:\WinCSI\Cabinet\Desktop |
executable file for FileCabinet CS desktop setup |
connectbgdl.exe |
X:\WinCSI\Tools |
executable file for CS Connect background services |
setup.exe |
X:\WinCSI\Tools\UTLicYY |
executable file for license installation, where YY represents the last two digits of the year version of UltraTax CS |
Note: Also see the SQL-based CS Professional Suite applications table below if you use an optional SQL data location and run an antivirus application on the machine where the SQL Server instance for FileCabinet CS is installed.
Filename |
File location |
Description |
dsw.exe |
X:\WinCSI\DSW |
executable file for Fixed Assets CS |
dswapp.exe |
X:\WinCSI\DSW |
executable file for Fixed Assets CS |
setup.exe |
X:\WinCSI\DSW\Desktop |
executable file for Fixed Assets CS desktop setup |
csiupd.exe |
X:\WinCSI\DSW |
executable file for CS Connect |
connectbgdl.exe |
X:\WinCSI\Tools |
executable file for CS Connect background services |
setup.exe |
X:\WinCSI\Tools\UTLicYY |
executable file for license installation, where YY represents the last two digits of the year version of UltraTax CS |
Filename |
File location |
Description |
UTP.exe |
X:\WinCSI\UTP |
executable file for Planner CS |
UTPKEYS.exe |
X:\WinCSI\UTP |
executable file for Planner CS |
setup.exe |
X:\WinCSI\UTP\Desktop |
executable file for Planner CS desktop setup |
CSIUPD.exe |
X:\WinCSI\UTP |
executable file for CS Connect |
UTPCON.exe |
X:\WinCSI\UTP |
executable file for CS Connect |
Filename |
File location |
Description |
CreativeSolutions.Practice.exe |
X:\WinCSI\Practice CS |
executable file for Practice CS |
csiupd.exe |
X:\WinCSI\Practice CS |
executable file for CS Connect |
connectbgdl.exe |
X:\WinCSI\Tools |
executable file for CS Connect background services |
CS Professional Suite applications such as Accounting CS, Practice CS, Workpapers CS, and (optionally) FileCabinet CS use SQL databases. If you run an antivirus application on the machine where the SQL Server instance for your CS Professional Suite applications is installed, we recommend excluding the following executables from real-time scanning:
Filename |
File location |
sqlbrowser.exe executable file for SQL Browser |
C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\90\Shared\ C:Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SQL Server\90\Shared\ (if on a 64-bit operating system) |
sqlservr.exe primary executable file for Microsoft SQL Server suite |
C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQLXX.<INSTANCE_NAME>\MSSQL\Binn\ C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQLXX.<INSTANCE_NAME>\MSSQL\Binn\ (if on a 64-bit operating system) (Where XX represents the version of your SQL Server instance) |
The file locations specified above are the default paths for these SQL Server executables. However, SQL Server installations can be customized to place these files in a different location. Please contact your firm's qualified IT professional for assistance with a customized SQL Server installation.
For additional information on configuring antivirus applications in a SQL environment, please see How to choose antivirus software to run on computers that are running SQL Server
on the Microsoft website.
Filename |
File location |
Description |
utwYY.exe |
X:\WinCSI\UTYY |
executable file for UltraTax CS, where YY represents the last two digits of the year version of UltraTax CS |
utwapp.exe |
X:\WinCSI\UTYY |
executable file for UltraTax CS |
csiupd.exe |
X:\WinCSI\UTYY |
executable file for CS Connect |
utwYYk1.exe |
X:\WinCSI\UTYY |
executable file for UltraTax CS Bar Code Scan |
utwYYsde.exe |
X:\WinCSI\UTYY |
executable file for UltraTax CS Source Data Entry |
setup.exe |
X:\WinCSI\UTYY\Desktop |
executable file for UltraTax CS desktop setup |
connectbgdl.exe |
X:\WinCSI\Tools |
executable file for CS Connect background services |
setup.exe |
X:\WinCSI\Tools\UTLicYY |
executable file for UltraTax CS license installation |
Filename |
File location |
Description |
concentr.exe |
C:\Program Files (x86)\Citrix\ICA Client |
executable file for Citrix Connection Center |
wfcrun32.exe |
C:\Program Files (x86)\Citrix\ICA Client |
executable file for Citrix Connection Manager |
wfica32.exe |
C:\Program Files (x86)\Citrix\ICA Client |
executable file for Citrix HDX Engine |
CtxTwnPA.exe |
C:\Program Files (x86)\Citrix\ICA Client |
executable file for Citrix Twain Redirection |
SelfService.exe |
C:\Program Files (x86)\Citrix\SelfServicePlugin |
executable file for Citrix Receiver |
SelfServicePlugin.exe |
C:\Program Files (x86)\Citrix\SelfServicePlugin |
executable file for Citrix Receiver |
Receiver.exe |
C:\Program Files (x86)\Citrix\Receiver |
executable file for Citrix Receiver application |
Filename |
File location |
Description |
WorkpapersCS.exe |
X:\WinCSI\Workpapers CS |
executable file for Workpapers CS |
csiupd.exe |
X:\WinCSI\Workpapers CS |
executable file for CS Connect |
connectbgdl.exe |
X:\WinCSI\Tools |
executable file for CS Connect background services |
Excluding specific file types from the scan
Some antivirus applications allow exclusions for specific file extensions. Listed below are file-type extensions for applications in the CS Professional Suite that can be excluded from real-time scanning.
Application |
File Extensions |
Accounting CS |
same as SQL Server: .mdf, .ldf, .bdf, .bak |
FileCabinet CS |
.ccd, .cci
|
Planner CS |
.udx |
Practice CS |
same as SQL Server: .mdf, .ldf, .bdf, .bak |
SQL Server |
.mdf, .ldf, .bdf, .bak |
UltraTax CS |
.ut*, .zpd (where * represents any character) |
Virtual Office CS or SaaS environment |
.ica |
Workpapers CS |
same as SQL Server: .mdf, .ldf, .bdf, .bak |
Protecting against spyware and malware
You should be aware of the possibility that computer programs could be installed on workstations without your knowledge or consent, sometimes along with the operating system or an application. Furthermore, spyware and malware can be discretely added to computers via the internet and can dramatically affect network performance by running in the background, consuming large amounts of bandwidth and memory.
When implementing antispyware and antimalware applications, you may need to create exclusions and exemptions within those applications (similar to those suggested above for antivirus applications) to prevent interference with CS Professional Suite applications. We suggest that your firm's qualified IT professional review and install antispyware and antimalware applications that meet the needs of your firm.
Troubleshooting performance issues
To determine whether background applications are slowing your network, first disable all background applications. The method of doing this varies by operating system, but in most instances restarting the computer in selective startup mode
will prevent those processes from starting. If your network speed improves by disabling background processes, you should take steps to prevent those processes from loading on startup. Because the method of disabling applications can vary, you should consult with your firm's qualified IT professional.
Configuring commonly used antivirus/antimalware applications
Thomson Reuters does not endorse a specific vendor or product for antivirus protection. If you require additional assistance configuring your antivirus application, please contact your software vendor. Listed below are common antivirus vendors and links for support assistance.
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This icon appears alongside links to resources that are not developed or maintained by Thomson Reuters. We provide access to these resources for your convenience, but we are not responsible for their accuracy. If you need additional assistance, please consult your qualified technician and/or the vendor who developed the resource.